Dnext

April 18, 2023 6:03am

Limpkin Couple

It was a bittersweet return to Myakka River SP after its double-destruction, first the Weir, and then Hurricane Ian....
But it is spring, nature is eternal and resilient, and nesting and mating seasons are still honored, though there was loss & displacement.

Myakka lost its weir, which was year-round home to roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, and types of vulture, and photography heaven.
Then the already flooded area was whipped by the hurricane, swallowing land and also disrupting waterways and things like gator nests.

One of the residents fairly unique to here in their numbers, are limpkins, whose diet is dependent mostly on apple snails.
So I was pleased to find a large colony of them, now in more open water (Lake Myakka) than the smaller protected pond now gone.

Anhingas are around too, and in even greater numbers a bit further north. But no glossy ibises or roseates at all... :((

#limpkin #bird #nature #MyPhoto #photography #Fenfotos #Myakka

Michael

April 10, 2023 4:44am

Myakka Re-visit # 2: Alligators in Nesting Area

Here is a post-Hurricane Ian nesting area populated by the many gators of Myakka River and Upper/Lower lakes.

There are many surviving 'gators - they're tough! - and with less water habitat, they may seem to be more dense-packed.

Here the bright green grass with which they are nose-to-nose, had been under water, and the dark holes (lower right) are now visible vestiges of their usually hidden nesting mounds

Ch-ch-ch-changes.
But nature revives, in time.

#fenfotos #myphoto #alligators #gators #Myakka #FL #photography #nature #HurricaneIan
Photos by Fenichel: http://fenfotos.com

Michael

April 7, 2023 3:30am

I returned today to my favorite nature spot (since I was a child).
It was devastated by Hurricane Ian in late September, wiping out &/or re-distributing 1000s of acres of trees, lakes, river, and wildlife. It has only re-opened recently, most trails still closed, and camping restricted.

So.... here is my first stop, a place that was a small pond off of the river & lake (Myakka) where I've taken/posted many shots (mostly for context, sky, a few birds and gators). Today it looks like a small water hole, filled in with new grasses. Same with the larger lake, much smaller. A spot which is home to many gators was wiped away, and where the nests/mounds were built, it's now mostly grass with a few dark cave-like holes - and many gators nearby, so 'home' remains for some survivors. Many were out on the banks today, a very hot day.

So the good news is that (surprise surprise) gators are tough! ("Thick-skinned") But there's less water around, (and prey too) so they have gotten more densely packed. Another favorite spot was pretty much decimated, but the silver lining is that I found my old friends, thel lmpkins, feasting away on apple snails, so the snails are still around for the limpkins' diet, and now I know where the limpkins are hanging out, a few with young'uns in tow. It's not as nice as their old digs, but nature heals slowly, and thrives.

The small bit of water surrounded by new grasses where there had been water - this was a boat launch ramp.

#myphotos #Myakka #Fenfotos #HurricaneIan

Michael

March 6, 2022 10:24pm

Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbills, and Snowy Egret

Sadly, my childhood 'til now favorite spot in the world for birds, is now being demolished ( Thanks, #DeathSantis )
The Weir @ Myakka SP is no more, displacing a plethora of year-round birds such as these.
Happy to have found this new (but small) little pond where the cool birds have gathered now, but don't know what will be, longer-term.

More birds & nature photography (plus links to human cities of the world) nesting @ http://www.fenichel.com/birds/

#myphoto #nature #birds #photography #woodstork #roseatespoonbill #snowyegret #fenfotos #myakka